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Code of Ethics

In 2024, the Federation of Dental Hygiene Regulators of Canada (FDHRC) partnered with Pivotal Research Inc. to develop a National Code of Ethics for dental hygiene regulators. This initiative aims to reflect best practices, uphold public protection, and ensure inclusivity and diversity. The new Code of Ethics aligns with Goal #3 of the 2023-2025 FDHRC Strategic Plan: Core National Standards for the Dental Hygiene Profession.

Project Phases

The project will be completed in phases, incorporating multiple consultation points with registered dental hygienists (RDHs) and members of the public.

1. Jurisdictional Scan and Expert Interviews

Pivotal Research conducted a jurisdictional scan, examining health regulators in Canada and beyond, alongside interviews with dental hygiene regulators. To support this work, FDRHC has established:

  • A Steering Committee responsible for project oversight and serving as a link to the FDHRC Board of Directors.
  • An Advisory Working Group of RDHs from across the country, providing input and feedback on various drafts of the Code.

2. Code of Ethics Development and Validation

The first step involved developing a framework for the Code of Ethics. Input is being gathered from an ethicist as well as a representative and inclusive sample of RDHs via an online bulletin board. Consultation will continue throughout June.

To ensure the Code aligns with anti-racism, cultural safety, and reconciliation principles, the FDHRC will engage Indigenous subject matter experts in the process.

Following these consultations, Pivotal Research will draft the Code of Ethics for review by the Steering Committee, Advisory Working Group, and others. The FDHRC Board will review an initial draft before a broad consultation in Fall 2025, including:

  • A national survey for RDHs
  • Engagement with members of the public

Feedback from this consultation will be compiled and reviewed by project committees and experts. A final draft is expected to be presented to the FDHRC Board at the end of 2025, with publication planned for early 2026.

 

Territory Acknowledgement

The FDHRC office stands on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. The Algonquin peoples have had a special, reciprocal relationship with this territory since time immemorial, and this relationship continues today. The FDHRC recognizes without qualification the inherent lands and territory rights of the Algonquin peoples as articulated in Section 35 of the Constitution Act of Canada 1982, as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which is enshrined in various legislation in what is now commonly called Canada.

See the FDHRC’s full territory acknowledgement here.